1st Day of School

I'm wondering who it affects the most when the first day of school rolls around? Moms, kids, or teachers.

For moms, their schedule takes a drastic turn....almost 180 degrees. No longer are the kids (and moms) sleeping in. No longer are the days filled with activities or lounging. No longer does the beach call your name. No longer can you wear PJs until noon. Instead, it's up at 6:30 or so and then waking the kids around the same time. It's making breakfast and sack lunches. It's doing homework, signing papers, and becoming "James" the chauffeur. True, moms now have 8 am-2 pm alone at home (unless there are little ones still) but even those hours seem to fly by trying to keep the house tidy and the schedules tight. Do you moms ever feel like doing what this "Mom Barbie" is doing just to cope with your schedules when school begins?




But what about kids? They go from TV, video games, sleep, play, beach, friends, late nights, late mornings, and sleep-overs to: In bed by 9, up by 6, no TV/video games during the week, no beach, no sleep-overs, and homework on a nightly basis. Stress hits them squarely in the face when for 3 months, they felt no stress at all. Are kids affected when school begins....Definitely!



And last but not least teachers. We always forget about them. I would say that the majority of people think that teachers actually look forward to the first day of school. They are always so cheerful on that first day and wanting to give a first impression; however, now that I am behind the curtain, I can tell you that this is simply not true. Teachers loathe the first day of school. We cannot stand it. Sure, we are somewhat excited for the new school year and the challenges that are sure to come our way BUT that first day is awful, simply awful. We have no set curriculum for the first day. We wing it. We are left to entertain the students for an hour at a time with really nothing to talk about. You can only ask "How was your summer?" for so long.



Some teachers play getting to know you games even though they know that the kids hate them. Why? Because it fills time. I refuse to play those games. Instead I just start talking about whatever. Sometimes the kids will laugh but most of the time they look at me like I'm on drugs. I actually asked my 6th period yesterday who they thought was hotter, "Misty May or Kerri Walsh?" That's how desperate I had become. They now think I'm a 36 year old pervert.



So there you have it. I'm not sure who has it worse? Moms, kids, or teachers. All I know is that everyone is just as miserable as everyone else so we deal with it thinking we are the only ones who feel this way.

Of course, I could be talking about a lot of things with that last comment. (Gospel Doctrine, Relief Society, First day of school.....) They all go hand in hand.